All posts tagged ‘kids music’

The Board of Education is a musical supergroup of scientists and authors who also happen to write and perform geeky music about, well, anything. It’s kids music, but that good kind of kids music that is catchy, fun and lyrically smart in only the way a biologist, quantum physicist and an anthropologist can make it. It reminds me of They Might Be Giants – Here Comes Science.

Today the band released a single that explores the angst surrounding the Star Wars Prequels from the perspective of a kid who just doesn’t understand. It’s a really fun song and clever in how it spins the arguments.

Jacksonville’s Chuck Nash and Atlanta’s Ben Rowell, collectively known as The Baby Grands, describe their style as “indie music for the whole family,” and I can’t help but agree. Though their simply titled 2010 release The Baby Grands II has a certain Zeppelin-esque ring to its moniker, the band’s sound is an almost universally appealing brand of melodic pop-rock. Channeling the titanic musical hooks of Cheap Trick and Big Star, the pleasant humor of They Might Be Giants and Barenaked Ladies and just a delicate hint of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ southern charm, II is a great big album that will easily appeal to little ears.

Written remotely via iChat brainstorming sessions, The Baby Grands II opens with the rousing “Hey!,” which partners with closing track “Goodbye” to give the album a proper, playful feel throughout. And like the best kindie rock, TBG manage to split the difference between educational anthems and feel-good bangers along the way.

“Where Are You From?” is a proper primer to the subjects of geography and multiculturalism, while the unlikely “Palindrome Express” is a country-fried shuffle about a trucker on his way to South Carolina’s own delightfully named Wassamassaw. Still, while edutainment jams are the bread and butter of children’s music, The Baby Grands are at their best when they are delivering uplifting tracks about imagination (“Dinosaur,” “Robot“) and childhood memories (“Brain Freeze,” “Paper Airplane.”)

On an album of such incomparable quality — so much so that I often find myself queuing it up on road trips even before my kids can request it — stand-out tracks are tough to measure, but a pair invariably stick out in my mind. The key-heavy “Upside Down” is a pop masterpiece with a sing-along chorus that will please the entire family, and it’s only outdone by the pitch-perfect harmonies of “Pounding Heart,” a song about the power of love both romantic and familial.

The Baby Grands II is available from both Amazon MP3 and iTunes, and physical discs can be purchased directly from the band’s official web site. Weighing it at only 10 tracks in length, it may seem a bit on the short side, but its stellar production value, clever songwriting and irresistible pop sensibility will make it an indispensable addition to your kid-friendly collection.

We hear a good bit of children’s music here at GeekDad, and we’ve made it our mission to filter out the crap so you don’t have to. Let’s face it – you don’t want to listen to Raffi, and the truth is neither do we. This is why when a solid kid’s album comes across the (wholly virtual) GeekDad desk, we feel the need to share.

Such is the case with The Bazillions, the brainchild of Twin Cities parents/musicians Adam and Kristin Marshall. These educators first began by writing songs for their students, and then the idea morphed into a proper project all its own. Combining the songwriting acumen gleaned from a decade spent in their ongoing indie pop band The Humbugs and a keen ear for music that appeals to kids without alienating adults, the Rock-n-Roll Recess album was born.

From the earliest strains of opening track “Good Morning,” the unpretentious pop-rock of The Bazillions generally forgoes the requisite edutainment angle in favor of primarily uplifting sing-alongs about childhood experiences. Standouts include the whimsical “Super Sonic Rocket Bike,” the oddly poignant “Tommy Got in Trouble” and an almost humorously soulful ode to “Mac-n-Cheese.” Still, the band manages to channel a genuine sweetness in closers “Lookout Man” and “Goodbye.”

I have been a huge fan of Internet radio for a long time. It has introduced me to many bands I’d never have heard of otherwise (whose music I went on to purchase). And network Pandora has taken the Internet radio phenom one step further, adding an excellent social media aspect to their service that helps you customize your own stations. But they also serve up some great genre-specific stations (give me Downtempo any day).

And last month, they started serving up stations for kids!

From their February blog announcement, here what the stations are all about:

Radio for Kids — Meant for kids 7 and under, this station is fun, educational, and not too baby-ish. For kids who are moving on up from Toddler Radio. Many musical genres are included here, and due to the variety and quality of songs, it’s enjoyable for kids and adults!

Rockin’ Kids Radio — Meant for kids 7 and under. This one is my personal favorite; an energetic station good for dancing, room-cleaning and high-energy play. This station is a winner for kids (and adults!) who love upbeat music. Rock out, kiddos.

Toddler Radio — Meant for kids 4 and under, this station is educational and fun! A variety of toddler-friendly themes and music genres are explored. Look for Sesame Street, Disney, & The Wiggles among others. :)

Sleepy Time — Meant for kids 5 and under, this station is designed to prepare your tyke for a nap or bedtime (or any time you want to bring the energy level down a notch). It’s full of mellow sounds and sweet lullabies.

Kid’s Folk Music — Meant for kids 7 and under, this station features quality kid-friendly folk music. It’s a pretty mellow station… a nice quiet-time alternative to Rockin’ Kids.

Tween Radio — Meant for ages 8 to adult. This station is appropriate for those too old for children’s music but a bit too young for rock ‘n’ roll’s more adult themes. It includes pop music like Miley Cyrus, the High School Musical cast, The Jonas Brothers, and the cast of Glee.

Because Pandora has almost as many ways to get the music to you as they do stations (on your browser, on your phone, through your TV), it’s a wonderful way to satisfy everyone’s musical tastes, and it’s REALLY easy to put on music that’s interesting and appropriate for your little geeks. It’s also FREE (well, FREEmium). Users get 40 hours of listening time per month at standard bit-rates, and with ad support on the web application. If you go Premium, for only $3 a month, you get 192kbps quality, unlimited listening, a stand-alone player (though you can access your account through any capable device – even a Chumby!) and no ads.

After a number of false starts and unfortunate delays, September finally saw the release of the original soundtrack album for Disney’s smash animated series Phineas and Ferb. As this is one of only a handful of shows that continually garners nigh-universal acclaim from GeekDads across the board, I was thrilled when our PR contact was able to secure me a copy for review.

Less a typical cartoon than a cleverly self-aware animated sitcom with unabashed musical tendencies, the world of Phineas and Ferb is positively packed with songs that are both fun and engaging for children and adults. Upon the album’s arrival, I was pleased to discover in the track listing a great number of my family’s favorite selections from the show’s first season, as well as a handful from season two standout episodes like “Phineas and Ferb Get Busted” and “Unfair Science Fair Redux (Another Story).”

A few weeks ago, a curious little package arrived at our house. Upon opening I discovered an odd array of items: a whoopie cushion, a plastic fish of some sort, a postcard and a DVD and CD by a group calling themselves The Jimmies. There was a DVD entitled Trying Funny Stuff and the accompanying CD, Make Your Own Someday. So I thought I’d try it out on my geeklet. Here’s what I found. Continue Reading “Kindie Rockers The Jimmies are Trying Funny Stuff” »